Tasting Note This is always such great value, a staple traditional-method bubbly following all the classic steps. The maturing pale gold colour is consistent with 24 to 36 months ageing on its lees. It is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay with vague pinot strawberry fruit on the nose, along with chardonnay apple, then the toasty/yeasty autolytic notes and a hint of nuttiness. It is light to medium bodied (12%), with firm, fine minerality and acidity, and a good sense of fruit and subtle sweetness on the palate. Residual sugar is at 8 g/L. The length is excellent. This is the go-to, widely appealing house-warming gift and party starter, or to sip as a generous refreshment in quiet moments.

Backgrounder There is no vintage date here, but the majority of the grapes for this bottling are from the ripe 2022 vintage, with a bit of older reserve wine in the mix. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and each variety was fermented separately. After fermentation the wines were blended and re-inoculated with yeast and bottled to go through secondary fermentation. The wine was left to age sur lie for 24 to 36 months, disgorged, then aged another six to twelve months in bottle before release